Imaginary Heroes Reign While Real Villains Rule ... and I Can't Help But 'Marvel' (plus, some simple ways to start Avenging)

Believe me, I understand and endorse how "heroic" entertainment can provide escapism from the real world, particularly during troubled times. I don't think it's coincidental that both Superman and The Lone Ranger first arose during the Great Depression.

And I realize that ever since superheroes became part of the cultural landscape, cinematic adaptations have been quite popular, especially with teenage boys, the prime audience for turning movies into blockbusters.

Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, etc., etc., have routinely done huge box office--regardless of the state of the economy--and to make huge piles of money is the main reason the Hollywood studios make movies (as this article from Cracked points out along with other shrewd insights).

Although I am commonly chagrined by the type of tripe that Hollywood serves up, I acknowledge--as David Mamet brilliantly suggested in Speed-the-Plow a quarter century ago--the folly in demonizing Hollywood for feeding us garbage when the public shows an Oscar The Grouch-like appetite for it.

But while saying that, I really don't mean to specifically denigrate The Avengers nor anyone who has chosen to see it. And that's a lot of us.

At this stage in its release, the superhero supergroup has outpaced all rivals in history's box office battle, making over $1 billion worldwide (and $389 million domestically) in just 19 days (12 in the U.S.). Box Office Mojo estimates that after this weekend, The Avengers will be the fourth highest grossing movie ever. Though it will still have a good ways to go to catch Aviator or Titanic for the all-time lead, its take to date has been stunning.

Especially coming soon after The Hunger Games--not officially a superhero movie, but with similar themes--did similarly startling business, at least domestically.

This summer will continue to be huge for superhero movies, with both The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises certain to pack theaters.

I don't acutely have any problem with this. I've seen many of the big superhero blockbusters in theaters, including taking in The Avengers yesterday. I wouldn't call it awesome, at least in terms of a story, but director Joss Whedon certainly has provided sufficient entertainment with the help of thousands (the credit roll was more robust than any I recall).

Yet I can't help but wonder in a "Nero fiddled while Rome burned" sort of way, whether there's something more than coincidental about our mass consumption of cinematic superheroes at the same time we continue to demonstrate mass apathy about the real villains and the havoc they wreak.

Certainly, there are many, many people--especially I imagine among those who read my blog--who are arduously aggrieved by the corporatocracy, Wall Street, the military industrial complex and others that I believe are placing criminally corrupt self-interest above the common good.

In Chicago this weekend, we should see just how pissed off a whole lot of people are about economic conditions around the world, which have been largely decimated as a consequence of actions taken within just a few blocks in Manhattan and Washington, DC.

Given my opening paragraph, it's possible that many people are going to see The Avengers as some kind of salve for their struggles, whether the connection is conscious or not. With a whopping 52% of people under 25 unemployed in Spain--where overall unemployment is nearly 25%--why shouldn't they spend a few Euro to see Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, The Hulk, Thor, Hawkman, et. al. try to save the world from an intergalactic attack?

But as the villain in the Avenger--Loki, Thor's brother--hails from another galaxy and has a vague reason for wanting to destroy Earth, and his alien army is so devoid of humanity, I have a hard time seeing a the movie as a metaphor for heroes battling the Wall Street demigods that continue to bring Earth to its knees, or anything in a similar vein. (see item #1 in the Cracked article I cited above)

While I like to imagine that a mass market phenomenon such as The Avengers will get people thinking about real-life heroes and villains, I think that may be a leap of faith.

I'm not accusing Marvel Studios or their ilk of anything more that trying to make globs of money, but I suspect that these supersonic cinematic monstrosities--along with our addictive electronic devices, mind-numbing reality TV shows (or whatever genre of entertainment you despise) and mind-altering substances (including a preponderance of anti-depressants)--may be serving to numb society's senses, and not accidentally or innocuously.

Sure, some of the things I often rail about, here and elsewhere, such as the erosion of social commentary in our popular entertainment, may seem rather whiny and inconsequential, but consider that...

If the decline of America--and the world--over the past 5 years (and well beyond) was the plot of a science fiction movie, part of the alien scheme would involve the hypnotism of the masses via what my friend Ken calls "electronic hallucinogens."

So while including myself among those who enjoy an over-the-top superhero movie every now and then, I'll wish that more people--including young moviegoers, but not just--start to pay more attention and do more to change things...or at least start pressuring our "leaders" to do so.

Not just because I and many people I know (and millions that I don't) can't find a job, but because as JPMorgan Chase bungled away what is now looking like $3 billion in speculative trading losses, it's estimate that 1 in 6 Americans are going hungry. And because Europe's at the precipice of insolvency, with revolution and/or fascism theoretically not that far behind. And because if you own a home, it's worth less than half of what it did before everything went to hell. And because no matter what your political beliefs, you aren't being represented by people more concerned with your interests than those of the lobbyists who enrich them.

Go see The Avengers if you wish and if you haven't already, but after we're done rooting on fake superheroes, let's do something real.

How Can You Start "Avenging"?

These suggestions are rather simplistic and I certainly could use some more myself. They also tend to mesh with my personal beliefs, so I realize the content may not be universally agreeable. That's fine; to me there is nothing more patriotic than debate and dissent. But though they're just a starting point limited by my scope of awareness, I believe that if everyone who sees The Avengers (or any other blockbuster movie) were to also do most or all of the following, the world could truly start changing in heroic ways:

• Get inspired by people like Mark Ruffalo, who plays the Hulk in the film and in real-life hosted a rally and concert against fracking. (To learn about fracking, which in a nutshell involves the contamination of drinking water due to natural gas drilling, start with Wikipedia and the documentary GasLand.
  
• Read Matt Taibbi on RollingStone.com (and his book Griftopia) and Paul Krugman of the New York Times (he's got a new book but I haven't read it yet). This isn't to imply you have to agree 100% with everything they write, but pay attention to the issues they raise.  
• Follow Michael Moore on Facebook and Tom Morello on Twitter (Ditto to the last sentence of the point above.)
• Watch the documentaries Inside Job and Casino Jack and the United States of Money (not to be confused with the fictionalized Casino Jack. The documentary is on Netflix streaming.)
• Take a look at the organization Progressives United, run by ex-senator Russ Feingold with a mission to reduce corporate dominance on our political system
• If, like most Americans (according to a new study) you think the U.S. might be able to sensibly reduce defense spending without sacrificing our security, don't be shy about saying so.

Farewell to a True Blue Friend as DuPage Democratic Activist Amy Tauchman Departs for Denver (on "Inauguration Day")

“I think I’m gonna be sad, I think it’s today
The girl that’s driving me mad is going away
She’s got a ticket to ride, she’s got a ticket to ride, she’s got a ticket to ride
But she don’t care”
The Beatles, “Ticket To Ride”

Ever since I thought about writing an appreciation of Amy Tauchman as she prepares to leave her longtime home in Glen Ellyn, Illinois for the wide open possibilities offered by Denver, Colorado, the above stanza has been in my head as the way to open such a piece.

And yet, virtually nothing about it is particularly accurate or apt. Yes, I am “gonna be sad” because Amy is going away, but I’m also happy for her to be making a new start. Rather than a girl that’s driving me mad, she’s a woman who’s been one of my best friends over the past five years. Instead of having a ticket to ride, she’ll be driving her own car as she goes on her Rocky Mountain way.

And more than almost anyone I’ve ever known, Amy very much does care.

So I hope some of what I write conveys just how passionate she has been about many things of great import, and how impressively she has inspired change as a result.

“Sometimes we move with no choice /
To the call of wild crazy voices”
BoDeans, “Dreams”

I met Amy Tauchman almost exactly five years ago. We lived a half-mile from each other in Glen Ellyn for more than 10 previous years, but never had reason to interact until we both made our initial forays into the world of campaign politics. After meeting Christine Cegelis at a candidate debate in January 2006—she was making her second run for the U.S. House seat in Illinois District 6—I volunteered to do some office work and Amy was Christine’s Office Manager and de facto Volunteer Coordinator.

I enjoyed working for Christine and with Amy; both warmly welcomed some proactive marketing concepts I shared, though it was too late in the campaign for them to be implemented. Although Christine had done better against longtime incumbent Henry Hyde in the 2004 general election than any previous challenger (as far as I’m aware), the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee— headed at the time by Rahm Emanuel—decided to enlist wounded Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth as a primary challenger. Tammy won a tough battle in March 2006—by less than 1% in a race where a third candidate, Lindy Scott, earned 16.5%—before losing to Peter Roskam in November.

Although I had made some friendly acquaintances on the Cegelis campaign, including Amy, this was before Facebook had become a ubiquitous way to further fledgling relationships and Amy & I never even exchanged phone numbers or email addresses. But soon thereafter, through the power of Google, I discovered that she was the co-leader and co-founder of DAWN (DuPage Against War Now). Given the political climate at the time, especially in DuPage County, where every elected official was a Republican (and most still are), I was somewhat surprised to find Amy’s phone number listed on DAWN’s website.

Even Amy’s compatriot in the formation and leadership of DAWN, Kathy Slovick (who continues to run the organization), says, “I felt that she was pretty courageous to allow her phone number to be published in the paper and on our website. I still remember some of the confrontational phone calls she would get from people.”

But as I soon came to know, even beyond the tenacity she brought to the Cegelis campaign, Amy Tauchman has never been one to let popular sentiment keep her from demonstrably championing her beliefs. 

“I won’t take all that they hand me down /
And make out a smile though I wear a frown”
The Kinks, “I’m Not Like Everybody Else”

In 1994, as a suburban mother and housewife—albeit one who had ruffled feathers on the local PTA by surveying the entire biography section of her children’s school library and insisting that it expand to better reflect the cultural diversity of the community—Amy Tauchman dyed her hair purple.

And kept it that way for the better part of two years.

For most of us, doing something sure to engender such attention, incredulity and derision would be merely a ‘pigment of our imagination.’ (Amy loves my puns;-) But in finding her surroundings far too homogenized—in practice if not in truth—she felt obliged to shake things up a bit while advocating for a greater sense of inclusion and acceptance among citizens outside the Caucasian Christian commonality.

The YWCA of DuPage would recognize Amy’s efforts to raise cultural awareness at the Parkview School and beyond by giving her their “Racial Justice Award” for Outstanding Women Leaders in 1998. 

So although Amy wouldn’t truly “get political” until 2006 or become an avowed peace activist until 2002, her social stridency was readily apparent long before DAWN. In fact, prior to starting a family, her first job out of college (at the University of Illinois) was as a social worker at a battered women’s shelter in Pilsen.

Role of a Lifetime: Heading Back to Africa, Chicago Actress Britni Tozzi Proves Activism is No Act

It's ironic that the letter "I" is so prevalent in Britni Tozzi's name, for she has no real desire--in fact, nearly an aversion--to draw attention to herself.

This despite being an actress who has starred in national commercials and an activist who who will soon be embarking, solo, on her second self-funded humanitarian mission to central Africa.

Heck, even though she graciously agreed to meet me for an interview after an online inquiry about her altruistic pursuits--as cited in a theater program bio--she spent the first hour of our conversation asking about me.

So I imagine it will make her blush (and/or cringe) for me to say that I've rarely spent time in the company of anyone so beautiful, and I'm not even referencing her dazzling good looks.

But as someone who devotes an inordinate amount of time, effort and her own money to those in need--while being exhaustively deferential to those relative few who give even more--Britni Tozzi warrants plenty of admiration and appreciation, even if she's endearingly demure about meriting the spotlight.

Thus, although despite her reticence Britni quite eloquently expounds on her impressive undertakings via her own blog--britnitozzi.blogspot.com, through which those inclined can contribute to her relief organization, Global Empathy Now; initial funding will help feed children at a school she worked at in Arusha, Tanzania--it is my pleasure to introduce you to this remarkable young woman.

Serendipitously, I had discovered Britni when I saw a stage musical version of The Wedding Singer by Circle Theater in Oak Park, where she played Linda, a shallow, superficial minx who is basically her antithesis. While I certainly found her attractive, and well-sung, I took particular note of this line in her program bio: "Offstage, Britni is an active volunteer for schools in Africa. Visit www.BritniTozzi.com for more!"

So I visited her website, which mainly bespeaks her acting resume but links to her blog, which is almost exclusively about her humanitarian work. Impressed, I reached out to see if perhaps I could learn more and write about her here, and upon doing so, I'm exponentially more impressed.

"I always knew I wanted to 'do something.' My parents instilled me with a deep sense of gratitude and helping people who are facing great challenges makes me even more grateful."

So revealed Britni when I asked why, at just 24 and already juggling a full-time job and a developing acting career, she is so devout in seeing far beyond her own self and taking action to improve lives halfway around the world.

"I've long been intrigued by Africa, so instead of just thinking and talking about it, late last year I decided to go there," she explained. "I did some research, pooled some of my savings with generous support from family & friends and within a matter of weeks coordinated my own mission to Tanzania."

There Britni connected with an organization called the International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) and spent the bulk of her time teaching a variety of subjects to children at the CHETI school (an acronym formed by Children Health Education Team Inspiration). 

According to Britni, who in earning a Theater degree at Chicago's Columbia College was class valedictorian, her acting skills--honed under the esteemed tutelage of David Cromer, Sheldon Patinkin, Barbara Robertson and Sean Graney, among others--came in quite handy in teaching English to her young Swahili-speaking pupils.

"Sometimes I had to pantomime objects--like a ball or a book--to help the kids better grasp translations from their native tongue."

Using funds she had raised and contributed to, Britni was able to facilitate the construction of 20 new desks for the school and the purchase of numerous supplies, including books, notebooks, pencils and rulers. You can read her account here, which also conveys how she took it upon herself to develop a Porridge Program to feed kids at the school, many of whom she had found to be malnourished. The smiles on the faces in the photo at right express the significance of this far better than I can, and the program continues to this day (and again, anything you may wish to donate would be extraordinarily appreciated).

As Britni wrote about here, she also befriended a man named Kaka, who was the security guard at the home where she and other volunteers stayed. In being invited to his home, she was astonished to learn that Kaka lived with his wife and four children in a single small room, as seen at left.

So she subsequently solicited additional funds from 18 generous donors, with which Kaka's family was able to buy land to eventually build a new home.

As one might imagine, Britni's initial excursion was not without trepidations and tribulations, including a case of shingles discovered upon her return home (as she recapped here). But steadfast that the considerable challenges are "entirely worth it," after Christmas with her family in Cleveland, she will once again be heading to Africa on December 26.

"In weighing various ways to provide assistance, I decided I wanted to get involved with HIV/AIDS treatment, education and prevention programs in Kenya."

This is how a girl who lists National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation among her favorite movies will be spending the three weeks following the holiday. (To be fair, she also lists Hotel Rwanda, Life Is Beautiful, The Pianist & Schindler's List and shared with me how looking at Holocaust photos as a child deeply affected her.)

After a day's worth of flights (from Cleveland to Chicago to Amsterdam to Nairobi), she will arrive in Kenya and be met--assuming all goes smoothly--by individuals from Sub Saharan Volunteers & Adventures. Through this organization, she will work with HIV-infected children in an orphanage and also plans to venture into the slums of Nairobi to speak with Kenyans about preventative care.

Similar to her first expedition, Britni will spend approximately three weeks in Africa and she is extremely grateful to the Chicago law firm where she works (as a Legal Assistant) for allowing her the flexibility to pursue both her acting and activist passions. (She is also effusive in her gratitude to the many family and friends who support and encourage her often daunting efforts.) 

Even more than she was able to on her last trip, when she is in Kenya and Tanzania Britni hopes "to learn more about the women. They're fascinating to me."

As, with apologies for gushing, she is to me. And I just met her. Certainly, and admiringly, I already have several friends with big hearts who are doing great things to improve lives and better the world. But in one conversation Britni espoused a worldview I champion as well as anyone I've ever encountered.

"Appreciate more, need less." 

As we head into the holidays, hopefully grateful for what we have even amidst the ravages of the economy, I can't think of a more beautifully selfless sentiment.

So even if Britni earnestly stresses, "I'm no Mother Teresa," not only does she devote a bit of each day to her relief efforts--including working toward the launch of a website and marketing program for Global Empathy Now--but I can't help but have a little more faith in a future in which she plans "to do this for the rest of my life."

Besides, as far as I know, Mother Teresa couldn't sing, dance and act. And she sure didn't look like a movie star.

(All photos from BritniTozzi.com and britnitozzi.blogspot.com)